Assessing the health impact of local amenities

16 Pages·2006·0.26 MB·English

by  Hilary Thomson

Thomson, H. and Kearns, A. and Petticrew, M. (2003) Assessing the
health impact of local amenities: a qualitative study of contrasting
experiences of local swimming pool and leisure provision in two areas of
Glasgow. Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health 57(9):pp. 663-
667.

http://eprints.gla.ac.uk/archive/00002730/
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Assessing the health impact of local amenities: a qualitative
study of contrasting experiences of local swimming pool and
leisure provision in two areas of Glasgow

Hilary Thomson * 1
Ade Kearns 2
Mark Petticrew 1

* corresponding author
1 MRC Social & Public Health Sciences Unit, 4 Lilybank Gardens,
Hillhead, Glasgow, G12 8RZ
Tel: [phone]
Fax: [phone]
E-mail: [email protected]

2 Department of Urban Studies, Bute Gardens, University of Glasgow,
Hillhead, G12 8QQ
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Abstract:
Study objective: To assess the health impacts of local public swimming pool and
leisure provision.
Design: Retrospective qualitative study using focus groups. Reports from two areas
with contrasting experience of provision of a local public swimming pool facility
(opening and closure) were compared within the context of general reports about
health and neighbourhood.
Setting: Two deprived neighbourhoods in south Glasgow.
Participants: Local adult residents of mixed ages, accessed through local
community groups
Main results: In both areas the swimming pool was reported as important amenity
which was linked to health and wellbeing. However, few residents reported regular
use of the pool for physical activity. Use of the pool facility for social contact was
directly linked to reports of relief of stress and isolation, and improved mental health.
Pool closure was reported to be part of a long line of amenity closures and area
decline. The pool closure was used to represent other area changes and health
impacts were strongly directed to the pool closure. The pool opening was associated
with regeneration within the area. In this area health impacts of swimming pool
provision were similar but were less prominent. Health benefits of social contact
were diffuse and linked to other local amenities as well as the pool.
Conclusions: Although theoretically linked to increased physical activity, the health
benefits conveyed by the swimming pool may be more closely linked to the
facilitation of social contact, a supervised facility for young children. The use of
qualitative work to investigate area based change provides rich contextual data to
strengthen and explain the reported health impacts.

Key words: health impact assessment, lay reports, neighbourhood amenities
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Introduction
Observational studies have consistently reported a residual health effect which is
attributed to area or contextual effects. [1] Yet, the nature of the relationship between
health and place remains poorly understood. As a result there has been a call to
‘move beyond the macro statistical relations’ with a need to link investigation of area
effects and social capital. [2] Qualitative analysis of lay reports has been
recommended as one approach to further understanding of area effects, lay
perceptions and possible mechanisms around health and place. [1] [3] Such empirical
work could be used to inform health impact assessments of area-based change as well
as contributing to academic understanding of health and place.

We carried out a qualitative study in two areas of south Glasgow (three miles apart) to
assess the health impacts of neighbourhood swimming pool and leisure facilities. We
designed the study to examine reports of contrasting experiences of a specific area
change in two similar areas. Comparison of these reports was thought to enable
validation of the findings in the two areas by considering separately the immediate
and possibly reactionary response from the situated nature of the psycho-social and
perceived health impacts of the place of swimming pool provision within a
community narrative. Analysis of narratives as they are embedded within the local
historical context has been recommended to provide richer and more valid
interpretations. [4] This paper presents a comparative analysis of local residents
reports of the health and social impacts of a local, public amenity, namely a
swimming pool.

The study of the health impacts of a swimming pool facility is a good example for this
case study of local amenities and health. Swimming is considered to be an inclusive
sport and leisure activity [5] which is less gendered or socially patterned than many
other sports, e.g tennis, golf, squash, [6] and can be continued into old age.
Swimming is now the UK’s most popular physical sporting activity, [5] and as a form
of exercise has an obvious link to health. Although an attractive facility to invest in,
the expense of maintaining ageing swimming pools is considerable. Recent
government inquiries in the UK [5] [7] [8] and high profile local pool closures add to the
topicality of this case study.
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Methods
In January 2000 a modern swimming pool and leisure complex was opened in one
case study area (Riverside*), while in December 1999 in the other case study area
(Parkview*) the swimming pool was closed. The closed swimming pool was
originally opened in 1927; the reason given by the local council for closure was the
expense of repair and upgrading. In both areas the pool buildings are located within
a residential neighbourhood and included gym and spa facilities. The two case study
areas are socio-demographically similar and are classified as deprived according to
the Carstairs deprivation categories (Riverside 7, Parkview 6 [9]) In the past decade
Riverside has been part of an £80 million housing led regeneration programme and
the area has Social Inclusion Partnership status. While in Parkview there has been no
similar investment or prioritising. The contrasting levels of area investment and
amenity provision were confirmed by focus group data and contact with the local
authority.

Fourteen focus groups were carried out 14-18 months following the pool opening and
pool closure. The aim of the focus group data collection was to gather a collective
community narrative of health, neighbourhood, local amenities and contextual change
rather than individual stories. Focus groups have been recommended as a method for
focussing on a specific issue and exploring shared norms and meanings that underlie
the collective assessments of a situation. [10] Ethical approval for the study was
obtained from the University of Glasgow Ethics Committee.

The sample was recruited from the area immediately around the pool, defined by the
local authority ward (n= 7500-8000). [11] A field visit was carried out by the
researcher to obtain contact details of local community groups in the areas. Local
community groups of mixed gender were selected to provide a range of adult age
groups. Groups were written to and long term (>4 years) residents were invited to
take part. These groups were theoretically sampled according to age group and
sampling in Riverside was carried out to mirror the sample in Parkview (see
appendix). Posters and information leaflets describing the study were enclosed with
the letter of invitation. A semi-structured schedule was drawn up beginning with
discussion of what the area was like to live in and what local amenities were
available. Relevant newspaper headlines and local photographs were used to
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stimulate discussion and introduce the concept of health and place. Focus groups
lasted around one hour and participants were paid £10 (15 euros) for participating.
The issue of the swimming pool was not raised specifically by the researcher until the
end of the discussion unless it had already been raised spontaneously by participants.
When the issue of the pool was raised by the participants they were asked to elaborate
on their use and views of the pool rather than asking explicitly whether they linked it
to health. Group members were given the opportunity after the group to speak
individually with the moderator and stationery was distributed to allow for additional
private feedback. Focus groups were audio-recorded in-toto and transcribed
verbatim. The tapes were listened to immediately following the group to allow for
documentation of group dynamics and subtleties of emphasis.

Data analysis examined the place of the swimming pools in the local context and was
facilitated by the use of NVivo software © using inductive analysis and constant
comparison in accordance with the principles of grounded theory. [12] The focus
groups and preliminary analysis were carried out sequentially to allow for interim
analysis to inform subsequent data collection. Transcripts were read repeatedly and
coded into themes of health, place and person. Further themes for coding emerged
during this process e.g. “amenities” and “swimming pool”. Data analysis and
interpretation was carried out by HT; validation of the thematic analysis was carried
out by AK. [13]

Findings
All seven groups approached in Parkview agreed to take part, while in Riverside ten
groups were approached; three groups declined to participate. A total of 81 residents
(male;female 11:70) took part with an average of six in each group (range 2-10).
Three feedback forms were received but did not alter the findings of the group
discussion.

The main emergent themes are presented below with quotations (m=male, f=female
voices) selected to represent the data and provide clear illustrations of the complex
relationships of place, person and health reported.

Reports of neighbourhood & local context
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Reports of the local neighbourhood comprised a number of key features: people,
location, length of residence, public space, amenities, private space and housing.
Changes in these key features were reported throughout the data reflecting the
contrasting levels of area investment and suggesting that there was a perceived change
in the fundamental nature of the neighbourhood in both areas. People or other
residents were the most prominent area influence and change reported.

The dynamics of the area changes and their impacts were reported to be complex in
both areas. Change in a specific area feature influencing a chain of secondary
changes in seemingly unrelated area features. For example, the pool closure was
reported to impact on perceptions of safety in public space, other amenity closures,
appearance of the area and whether people are attracted to the area.

M1: And it wisnae that it [the pool building] brought life into that bit of the area because it
was lit up, the huge big dome the whole place had an aura about it but now you go up there,
you’ve nae light, the building is dim the weans have smashed whatever lights hanging about,
it’s dreary, it’s frightening, that’s how the shops are shutting because naebody is there at night
whereas when the baths were opened at night it lit the whole area up

F: Aye till about 10 o’clock even, even like you could park up next to it

M1: People were coming backward and forwards but now there’s nae reason for anybody
to go up there.
Parkview: middle aged men and women, (P4)

The place of the pool
The pool was an important change in both areas. In Parkview the closure of the
swimming pool was presented spontaneously by each group as a significant change in
the area. The swimming pool building occupied a large site in the centre of the
neighbourhood and its closure was reported as one of the most recent in a long line of
amenity closures. Reports of the pool closure were used to emphasise the scale of the
reported under-investment in the area and, as such, were symbolic of wider area
decline.
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F1: When we moved in, it was a high amenity area because you had the baths, the
library, the station, the buses, the steamie [laundrette] everything was handy, now it’s a
deprived area.

HT: Right, so have these things been shut down then?

F2: Yeah, there are several shops that have closed completely.

HT: Right and so what is left for you to use?

F1: The library [laughing]

F2: That’s all

F3: And thanks to the powers that be they made this one of the biggest ghettos on the
south side the day they closed the swimming baths, it was the only thing that the kids had to
go and do here, there’s no other amenities other than the church and any other church groups
round about have to use so that was thanks to them this place became…it’s overnight they
made it into a ghetto practically.
Parkview: elderly women (P3)

Residents in Parkview reported having little control over the pool closure. Lack of
control and choice was an issue which was reported throughout the data. The closure
of the pool was used to represent the powerlessness of the residents regarding
decisions made which impacted on the local environment and their living conditions.
[see above quote]

Reports of the pool were markedly less prominent in Riverside, the pool was not
always mentioned spontaneously. Other changes, such as new housing and new
owner occupiers were reported to be more influential in the area. There were mixed
reports of the adequacy of amenities in Riverside. There had been a number of new
facilities provided and small shops had been replaced with an attractive mainstream
shopping area.

HT: And you’ve sort of said that there’ve been a lot of changes in Riverside over the past
few years, what have been the main changes?

F1: Oh, housing is one.
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F2: Sports Centre.

F1: The Sports Centre. That’s made a big difference.

HT: Has it?

F1: It took quite a lot off the street. The ones that want to go off the street, it took them
off the street, you know.

F2: It made a big difference.
Riverside: mothers of pre-school children (G7)

Use and benefits of the pool
In both areas the pool was reported to be an important amenity; use and benefits
linked to the pool were similar in both areas, although more prominent in Parkview.
Links were made between health and the physical exercise facilitated by the
swimming pool and the associated leisure facilities. However, there were few reports
of regular use of the facility for this purpose. The pool was reported to be important
for facilitating social contact with friends and neighbours across all age groups and
this was directly linked to mental health; this was striking throughout the data. The
health benefits of social contact were reported to be stress relief and reducing
isolation

F1: Well we used to go to the keep-fit [held in the swimming pool building] every Tuesday
night and that was a women’s night from 6 o’clock to 10 o’clock at night and that was stowed
every night of the week so I mean that was keeping us healthy. I mean although we smoke
and everything else but we were still going there, keeping healthy, keeping fit, going for a
swim and then going home. It was £3.20 we paid for the whole night and we had a swim, all
the aerobics and everything else that they were teaching us.

F2: You can go to any of the big health centres ………

F1: But we felt better for going there at least once a week, we felt good within ourselves
going down the road with a chippy [everybody laughing]

F2: You worked it off before you ate your chippy………

Parkview: mothers of pre-school children (P6)

Further analysis suggested that the lack of the swimming pool compounded other
stresses associated with personal and area disadvantage. Mothers of young children,
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those living alone and elderly people were frequently reported as especially in need of
amenities like the swimming pool and its associated benefits. In particular mothers
of young children reported using the pool as a stress reliever to cope with lively
young children in circumstances where there was not much secure public space
accessible and where housing was not spacious; and reported benefits to children of
being able to participate in safe, spacious and energetic play. Mothers also used the
pool as an opportunity to escape their domestic duties and socialise with other adults.

HT: Do you think this is an exercise thing do you think the negative thing of it closing is
just that folk…

M1: Well, everything, social

F1: For some it was social and for some it was exercise some it was a hobby. It depends
on how you look at it. Some of maybe of the younger kids, you took them you sort of
monitored them but it let them release a lot of tension meant like when you got home they
were exhausted and right bed and you would get peace and quiet for an hour [laughs] so it let
you unwind. Whereas now they are totally about your feet your are hyper and they are hyper
and you are [flop sound as if exhausted/exasperated].

F2: That’s another thing, they are not allowed to play in the corridors, they can’t play
there, you can’t let them out you can’t let them play in the corridor so they are stuck in the
house so they get bored stiff as well.
Parkview: middle aged men and women (P5

In addition to highlighting groups most vulnerable to the impacts of the pool closure,
there were also reports of widespread vulnerability in the local neighbourhood
compared with neighbouring areas which were more affluent and where car
ownership was high.

M: I’m not trying to bring this place down because I stay in it, but I know fine well that is
how it is. If you have got money you can afford to send them, that baths being shut that won’t
affect a lot of people in Newlands [neighbouring affluent area to Parkview] or whatever it is,
you have got a car and you have got all of these things.